Card Game

ABSTRACT

A card game is played between a dealer and at least one player. Each player is required to ante a bet before receiving a hand of cards. Cards are dealt to the dealer and each player so that the dealer and each player each receive two cards with faces of the dealer&#39;s cards hidden from each player. Each player is permitted to view their cards and the make additional bets. The cards dealt to the dealer are revealed. Each player holding a hand wherein the sum of the player&#39;s cards is within a selected amount of the sum of the dealer&#39;s cards is identified as a winner.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Betting games are a popular form of card game. There are countless variations of betting games, but many have certain common features. All players bet equal sums of money into a betting pool for that hand called a “pot”. This initial bet is called an ante. Each player then receives a number of cards. There is a round of betting, where players bet commensurate with how they feel their hand will fare among the hands of other players and the dealer. Players who feel they have losing hands may instead drop out of the competition, or “fold”. Remaining players then often have the opportunity to modify their hands by either replacing cards or adding cards, depending on the game being played. Another round of betting may take place, followed by another period where players may modify their hands. This scenario may repeat one or more times, depending on the game being played, ending in a period where the hands of players remaining in the game are compared to each other or the dealer to determine the winner.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is block diagram illustrating a system for playing the card game of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating one embodiment of the method of the present invention card game.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a system 2 for playing a card game. The card game may be played using standard playing cards or special playing cards, provided each card has a face. The game may also be played with a single deck of cards or multiple decks of cards.

Card game system 2 includes computer 4. In this embodiment, the card game is played on a computer and uses computer simulated cards.

Computer 4 is any specific or general purpose computer usable by an individual to perform the steps of the process of the present invention. In one embodiment, computer 4 includes user interface 6, processing system 8, and storage system 10.

User Interface 6 is any combination of hardware and software for providing feedback to a user and for allowing the user to input into the computer. In one embodiment, user interface 2 includes a display monitor and a keyboard. In another embodiment, user interface 2 includes a touch screen monitor.

Processing system 8 is any combination of hardware and executable code configured to process software for performing the assessment of the present invention process.

Storage system 10 is any device or system configured to store data or executable code 12. Storage system 10 may also be a program storage system tangibly embodying a program, applet, or instructions executable by processing system 8 for performing the method steps of the present invention executable by processing system 8. Storage system 10 may be any type of storage media such as magnetic, optical, or electronic storage media.

Storage system 10 is illustrated in FIG. 1 as a single device. Alternatively, storage system 10 may include more than one device. Furthermore, each device of storage system 10 may be embodied in a different media type. For example, one device of storage system 10 may be a magnetic storage media while another device of storage system 10 is an electronic storage media. Other examples of types of media include mechanical, biological, and organic.

Executable code 12 is any type of executable code which, when executed, performs the method steps of the present invention process. Executable code 12 may be stored in storage system 10 and processed in processing system 8.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart representing steps of one embodiment of the present invention. Although the steps represented in FIG. 2 are presented in a specific order, the present invention encompasses variations in the order of steps. Furthermore, additional steps may be executed between the steps illustrated in FIG. 2 without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Each player is required to ante 14 a bet before receiving a hand of cards. The bet may be made with anything that represents or simulates something of value. For example, the bet may be made with money, chips, checks, or credits.

Cards are dealt 16 to the dealer and each player. The dealer and each player each receive two cards, or some other fixed number of cards. The faces of the dealer's cards are hidden from the players. The players are permitted to view 18 their own cards. In one embodiment, the players are not permitted to view each other's cards. In alternate embodiments, each player may or may not be restricted to playing only one hand.

Each player decides 20 whether to continue play or to fold and is permitted to make 22 additional bets. The bets may be made with anything that represents or simulates something of value. For example, the bets may be made with money, chips, checks, or credits. Either before or after making 22 additional bets, each player must declare 24 the value for each ace held by the player.

After the additional bets are made 22 and the values of the aces declared, the dealer's cards are revealed 26 to the players. In this context, revealing 26 the dealer's cards to the players means showing the faces of the dealer's cards to the players. Each player holding a hand wherein the sum of the player's cards is within a selected amount of the sum of the dealer's cards is identified 28 as a winner. The selected amount is selected by the variation of the game being played and is therefore set before the game begins. Examples of a selected amount include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and so on.

Each winner is compensated 30 by awarding money, or the like, to the winner. Often the winner is compensated in the same form as the bets, but it is not necessary.

Each player holding a hand wherein the sum of the player's cards is outside a selected amount of the sum of the dealer's cards is also identified 32 as a non-winner. In this context, outside the selected amount means either above or below. For example, if the sum of the dealer's cards is 15 and the selected amount is one, each player holding a hand wherein the sum of the player's cards is above 16 or below 14 is identified 32 as a non-winner.

In one embodiment, each player declining to make additional bets is also identified 32 as a non-winner. Each non-winner is penalized 34 by causing each non-winner to lose the totality of each non-winner's ante and additional bets.

In one embodiment, the sum of each player's hand is the sum of the face value of each card from two through ten, ten for each face card, and at the discretion of the player, either one or eleven for each ace. The player must declare the value of each ace in the player's hand before the dealer's hand is revealed 26. The sum of the dealer's hand is the sum of the face value of each card from two through ten, ten for each face card, one if the first card received by the dealer is an ace, and eleven if the second card received by the dealer is an ace.

In an alternate embodiment, the sum of each player's hand is the sum of the face value of each card from two through ten, eleven for each jack, twelve for each queen, thirteen for each king, and at the discretion of the player, either one or fourteen for each ace. The sum of the dealer's hand is the sum of the face value of each card from two through ten, eleven for each jack, twelve for each queen, thirteen for each king, one if the first card received by the dealer is an ace, and fourteen if the second card received by the dealer is an ace.

The nature of this card game additionally allows for many variations. In one such variation, bonus bets may be made by the players. The bonus bet either takes the place of or is in addition to the ante. If a bonus bet is made by a player, the player is identified as a winner and paid a bonus amount if the player receives cards meeting certain criteria. Examples of the criteria are all cards of the same suit, cards all in sequence, and matching cards of different suits. The bonus amount paid to the player for having cards meeting any of these criteria may be affected by whether the dealer also has cards meeting any of these criteria.

The foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Various alternatives, modifications, and variances can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention embraces all such alternatives, modifications, and variances that fall within the scope of the described invention. 

1. A method of playing a card game between a dealer and at least one player including: requiring each player to ante a bet before receiving a hand of cards; dealing cards to the dealer and each player so that the faces of the dealer's cards are hidden from each player; permitting each player to view their cards; permitting each player to make additional bets; revealing the cards dealt to the dealer; identifying as a winner each player holding a hand wherein the sum of the player's cards is within a selected amount of the sum of the dealer's cards.
 2. The method of claim 1 further including awarding money to each winner.
 3. The method of claim 1 further including identifying as a non-winner each player holding a hand wherein the sum of the player's cards is outside a selected amount of the sum of the dealer's cards.
 4. The method of claim 3 further including causing each non-winner to lose the totality of each non-winner's ante and additional bets.
 5. The method of claim 1 further including identifying as a non-winner each player not declining to make additional bets.
 6. The method of claim 5 further including causing each non-winner to lose the totality of each non-winner's ante.
 7. The method of claim 1 wherein the sum of each player's hand includes the sum of: the face value of each card from two through ten; ten for each face card; and at the discretion of the player, either one or eleven for each ace.
 8. The method of claim 1 wherein the sum of each player's hand includes the sum of: the face value of each card from two through ten; eleven for each jack; twelve for each queen; thirteen for each king; and at the discretion of the player, either one or fourteen for each ace.
 9. The method of claim 1 wherein the sum of the dealer's hand includes the sum of: the face value of each card from two through ten, ten for each face card, one if the first card received by the dealer is an ace, and eleven if the second card received by the dealer is an ace.
 10. The method of claim 1 wherein the sum of the dealer's hand includes the sum of: the face value of each card from two through ten, eleven for each jack, twelve for each queen, thirteen for each king, one if the first card received by the dealer is an ace, and fourteen if the second card received by the dealer is an ace.
 11. A program storage system readable by a computer, tangibly embodying a program, applet, or instructions executable by the computer to perform a method for playing a card game between a dealer and at least one player, the method comprising: requiring each player to ante a bet before receiving a hand of cards; dealing cards to the dealer and each player so that the faces of the dealer's cards are hidden from each player; permitting each player to view their cards; permitting each player to make additional bets; revealing the cards dealt to the dealer; identifying as a winner each player holding a hand wherein the sum of the player's cards is within a selected amount of the sum of the dealer's cards.
 12. The program storage system of claim 11 further including awarding money to each winner.
 13. The program storage system of claim 11 further including identifying as a non-winner each player holding a hand wherein the sum of the player's cards is outside a selected amount of the sum of the dealer's cards.
 14. The program storage system of claim 13 further including causing each non-winner to lose the totality of each non-winner's ante and additional bets.
 15. The program storage system of claim 11 further including identifying as a non-winner each player not declining to make additional bets.
 16. The program storage system of claim 15 further including causing each non-winner to lose the totality of each non-winner's ante.
 17. The program storage system of claim 11 wherein the sum of each player's hand includes the sum of: the face value of each card from two through ten; ten for each face card; and at the discretion of the player, either one or eleven for each ace.
 18. The program storage system of claim 11 wherein the sum of each player's hand includes the sum of: the face value of each card from two through ten; eleven for each jack; twelve for each queen; thirteen for each king; and at the discretion of the player, either one or fourteen for each ace.
 19. The program storage system of claim 11 wherein the sum of the dealer's hand includes the sum of: the face value of each card from two through ten, ten for each face card, one if the first card received by the dealer is an ace, and eleven if the second card received by the dealer is an ace.
 20. The program storage system of claim 11 wherein the sum of the dealer's hand includes the sum of: the face value of each card from two through ten, eleven for each jack, twelve for each queen, thirteen for each king, one if the first card received by the dealer is an ace, and fourteen if the second card received by the dealer is an ace. 